The place has everything (Petra (Lesbos))

Member Name: www.mike.com

Product:	Petra (Lesbos)
Date:	14/07/02 (2755 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Clean, friendly, traditional (not too tourist orientated)

Disadvantages: negligable

Whatever you're looking for in a holiday, provided you're not inclined to head straight for the 18-30 style, you're onto a winner in Petra! On the northern coast of the island of Lesvos, Petra is a bustling village which despite its attention from the tourists keeps its tradional Greek values.

I stayed at the Nakellis Studios which are situated some 450 metres from the central area of the village, the apartments were clean, the host was most welcoming and the surroundings beautiful. The location was perfect, a short walk to the shops or the beach whilst still maintaining the tranquility of the countryside.

Petra is dominated by a massive rock upon which a small chapel has been erected, from the walls surrounding the chapel it is easy to see that the resort is ideal for a relaxed holiday. My accommodation is visble amongst what seems to be a forest of olive trees, however, on closer inspection it is not so dense as to be threatening in any way. The narrow streets and bright terracotta roofs of the town are typical of the region.

There is a long beach which stretches the length of the village and more, although there are a few more pebbles than some might appreciate. The coastal road is lined with tavernas each competing for your custom and so standards are usually very high and the staff very friendly. The Greek beer available is the strength of our premium beer and if you want bitter, it is available at Café Reef (coastal road). The prices are very good, it's worth going for a package without included meals, as you can experience a wealth of amazing food and places without hurting your pocket too much.

A leisurely evening meal in one of the sea-front tavernas is a delight with the sun setting across the water and the sound of traditional Greek boudouki (a kind of lute). Being on the coast, the fish is wonderful and fresh (look out for asterisks on the menu which usually mean that the fish is frozen) and the
re is a great range available. Your meal will usually come accompanied by some kind of tomato/courgette based side and rice, often chips or potatoes as well, there is not a huge range of fresh fruit and vegetables (if you want these, the supermarkets have them and they're best at the beginning of the week).

The streets are clean, the beach is clean, and you'll find you're invited into the kitchens of some of the tavernas before you place your order, it's a good way of reassuring the customer that they want to eat there.

If you've seen everything in Petra them for a cab ride of about £3 equivalent you can explore the town of Molyvos which also has plenty to offer, or Anaxos in the opposite direction. Anaxos is within walking distance along the coast, however, in the last few hundred metres you might be advised to cut across the grounds of a hotel complex (through an open gate marked no tresspassing) to avoid the rocks and ocasional wave that laps at your feet; those of a more adventurous nature might like the challenge of the coast.

You won't find many names that you recognise on shop fronts; I saw car dealerships, petrol stations and one branch of Spar. You might well see a lot of army vehicles and personnel, this is to be expected in a country where National Service is a requirement.

Flights to the island (to my knowledge) are with My Travel or JMC, to Gatwick or Manchester. There are two flights to each airport each thursday and the flight to Manchester is about four hours. The Airport is about an hour and a half away from the resort, the distance isn't far but the winding roads do slow you down. You do get the chance to see the salt flats during the transfer though, and if you're lucky you might see a flamingo or two.

The airport on the island is very small, so once you've checked in your luggage you are advised to leave the building, walk a hundred yards down the road and enjo
y a drink in one of the three tavernas whilst watching the ferries leave the port a couple of miles up the coast. If you look out of the left hand side of the plane on your way to the island and your right as you leave, you'll be able to see Petra from the air, it's a wonderful feeling to get that one last glimpse of a wonderful holiday.

The only drawbacks are those to be found anywhere in Greece; you shouldn't drink water from the tap and you must put toilet paper into the big provided as the narrow pipes cannot cope with it. But these are incredibly small concessions to make for so much in return.

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